I should have known he'd ask about diabetes. Of course he would, I mean he's a rep for an insurance agency for Pete's sake. (Who is Pete, anyway?)

I'm on the hunt for short-term health insurance. My new job has a 90-day probation period, which means I don't get health benefits until Sept. 1. I'm currently covered under COBRA, but the premiums are nearly $900 a month for me and the kids. That really puts a dent in the wallet. And really all I need at this point is catastrophic coverage since I have enough pump supplies and meds to get me through and the kids have all had their well-child checks and are up to date on all their shots.

The rep had a few questions, he said, before he could get me a quote. I should have just hung up then because I knew he was going to ask about diabetes and I knew that would be the end of it. But I stuck through it, just in case.

"...heart attack, heart disease...," he asked.

"No."

"...high blood pressure, kidney problems..."

"No."

"...HIV, AIDS..."

"No."

"...diabetes..."

"Yes."

I think he lost concentration at that point. He promised to call me back after he could see what he could do. I should have told him not to bother.

Less than 30 minutes later he called with the bad news. He coudn't do anything for me short-term because of diabetes. I felt robbed. I wanted to scream, "How dare you deny me the right to have peace of mind because of this stupid disease--that I manage pretty well, thank you?!?!"

So now of course I know that no company will offer me short-term health insurance. Unless I deny I have diabetes, unless I proclaim that I'm in perfect health and won't cost them a dime during my 10-week stint with them.